When it comes to the ultimate private island getaway, this picture-perfect outcrop off the coast of Connecticut certainly fits the bill.
Put on the market for a cool $35 million by hedge funder Greg Jensen of premier asset management firm Bridgewater Associates, Rogers Island has quickly caused a stir among property experts with its unique offerings.
Firstly, the island boasts an unbeatable location just a short boat ride from Branford.
The picturesque shoreline town is easily accessible from New York by car and there is a rail link, with the journey coming in at less than three hours.
Next up, the 7.65-acre island serves as an ideal place to entertain friends and family with a 8,746-square-foot renovated main residence, complemented by a four bedroom waterfront guest house.
The grounds also serve as an idyllic place to unwind, with landscaped formal gardens, winding trails and a koi pond.
Topping things off, there are three private beaches and two dock areas.
On the activity side of things, there is a tennis court, billiards table, swimming pool and putting green, while sailing enthusiasts will be in their element with the surrounding waters to explore.
Greg Jensen – a co-chief investment officer at Bridgewater – purchased Rogers Island in 2018 for $21.5 million from a couple who spent years accumulating islands in the area.
Following his acquisition, Jensen carried out extensive renovations to the 1902 property so he could go about using it as a convivial summer retreat.
Photos show how the terracotta roofed Tudor-style main house now features fresh interiors which complement period features and traditional woodwork detailing.
A bold use of color has been used in some of the rooms, with lilac used for the main dining space and a lime green in one of the entryways.
Meanwhile, the fixtures and fittings have been updated throughout, with the kitchen featuring state-of-the-art appliances and the bathrooms having a hotel-like feel to them with chrome taps and roomy rain showers.
In terms of the accommodation offerings, there are ten bedrooms in total and eight bathrooms.
Along with the three-story main house and guest lodge, there are staff quarters tucked away amid the groves of mature trees and a dedicated artist’s studio.
Before being used as pied-a-terre, Rogers Island served a quarry and its current guise was masterminded by renowned railroad baron and financier John Jay Phelps at the turn of the 20th century.
Today, realtors say that Rogers Island ‘beckons as the ultimate symbol of achievement, awaiting its discerning new owner.’
Some of the Thimble Islands to sell in recent years include Green Island, which sold for $3.5 million last year; Belden Island, which sold for $1.25 million in 2021 and Potato Island, which fetched $4.2 million in 2020.
There is a smaller island off the coast of Branford for sale in the archipelago for $2.75 million, however, Rogers Island reigns as the most expensive offering.
For investors, according to data collated by Walletinvestor.com, the Branford area is tipped to offer long-term reward.
The financial and cryptocurrency site predicts that a five-year property investment should reap a profit of around +2.05 percent.
Interested parties are instructed to contact the Greenwich office of Douglas Elliman, via the James Edition listing page for more information.
